New reality TV series 'Wicked Tuna' reels in the drama

From stem to stern, “Wicked Tuna” is wicked authentic. The competition is high stakes. The fishermen – and one woman – are characters in their own right.

By Dana Barbuto

Hope Star - Hope, AR

By Dana Barbuto

Posted Apr. 2, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 2, 2012 at 1:16 AM

By Dana Barbuto

Posted Apr 2, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 2, 2012 at 1:16 AM

Former Patriots coach Bill Parcells, known as “The Big Tuna,” isn’t the focus of the new reality TV series “Wicked Tuna.” Instead, the show follows the lives of commercial tuna fishermen in Gloucester, Mass., including Marshfield, Mass., native Paul Hebert. The 10-part series premiered Sunday on the National Geographic Channel.

From stem to stern, “Wicked Tuna” is wicked authentic. The competition is high stakes. The fishermen – and one woman – are characters in their own right. The five featured boats and their captains are: Tuna.com, Dave Carraro; The Bounty Hunter, Bill Monte; The Odysea, Ralph Wilkins; the Hard Merchandise, Dave Marciano; and The Christina, Kevin Leonowert.

By its nature, bluefin tuna fishing is high drama. And so, the emotion on the show is palpable. If these guys don’t catch enough tuna over the allowed fishing period, then mortgages and college tuition don’t get paid.

“It’s a rough lifestyle. There’s natural drama and lots of highs and lows,” said Michael Cascio, vice president of programming for NatGeo. “These guys are compelling characters. They all have a love-hate relationship with each other.”

Other shows of this ilk – “Ice Road Truckers” and “Deadliest Catch” – have been ratings gold for other networks. NatGeo is banking on the same results for “Wicked Tuna.”

“It fit all of the things that we we’re looking for in a television series,” said Cascio. “We hope that with the push we’re giving it (when it premieres Sunday) that people will tune in that week and the next and get hooked. We’re chumming the waters for viewers,” said Cascio, laughing at his fishing puns.

“As characters they are interesting and inspirational. The drama never stops. Every time they catch one or think they are going to catch one it’s pretty dramatic to watch. To see them in action is fascinating. They have a love-hate relationship with each other and the sea. They have to make their catch in a prescribed period of time and they have to be up to the challenge. It’s a big high and big low. You watch this and think, ‘Maybe my office job isn’t so bad after all,’” Cascio said.